Situation

By 2012 Marks & Spencer is aiming to be carbon neutral. The company now uses recycled plastic for 30% of its packaging and has set up four "eco-factories", each of which uses around 50% less energy and water.

It is an initiative which filters down to all levels: in the reception area of the company headquarters in Paddington, West London, the rubbish bin is labelled "Bin of Last Resort" to remind staff and visitors to recycle. Customers are gently encouraged to wash their clothes at 30'c and leave clothes hangers behind.

This green approach to business has also been applied to its fire protection strategy. At the company headquarters in Paddington a "double-knock" fire fighting system was required to protect a sensitive area of the building. Traditionally, gas systems are often installed in such areas, but high maintenance requirements and the environmental impact of gaseous systems encouraged M&S to look elsewhere.

Solution

Gemini is a "double-knock" sprinkler head that virtually eliminates accidental release of sprinklers and incorporates condition monitoring and fault alarms. It is sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to gaseous systems, for use in sensitive areas where accidental release would cause damage. Gemini proved easy to install as it can be easily fitted to existing or new systems, using traditional fixing methods.

Result

By virtually eliminating accidental release of water, Gemini could potentially save considerable amounts of waste water. Importantly, water discharge is generally a more environmentally friendly solution than gas discharge and unlike gas systems, Gemini requires minimal maintenance, further reducing the carbon footprint associated with maintaining the protection levels.

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